Troponin Leak?!?

Doctors keep throwing around the phrase "troponin leak," and I came across this doozy paper while reading up on the mysterious term:

CASE REPORT

Cardiac Troponin I Elevation After Orogenital Sex During Pregnancy

José Mauricio Sánchez, MD1, Michael R. Milam, MD, MPH2, Tracy M. Tomlinson, MD3 and Michael A. Beardslee, MD1

From 1Washington University School of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, St. Louis, Missouri; 2Department of Gynecologic Oncology, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas; 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Venous air embolism due to orogenital sex in pregnancy is an uncommon clinical event.

CASE: A previously healthy, 29-week pregnant woman presented to the emergency room unconscious 1 hour after engaging in orogenital sex with her partner. The cardiology service was consulted due to troponin elevation. Assessment was that the patient had likely suffered an air embolism with associated troponin leak.

CONCLUSION: Although a rare clinical event, air embolism from air insufflation of the vagina can result in troponin elevation and should be considered in the differential diagnosis in pregnant patients with a history of orogenital sex.

Obstetrics & Gynecology 2008;111:487-489 © 2008 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists